The Tragic Story of David and Darlene: How Roseanne Ruined a Couple's Happiness Twice

The Original Finale and Retcon

Roseanne and The Conners retconned one couple’s happy ending not once, but twice. The original Roseanne finale occurred at the end of season 9, revealing that almost all of the preceding season’s events only took place in a book Roseanne was writing.

Lecy Goranson's Becky and Sara Gilbert's Darlene sit at the kitchen table laughing in The Conners

The future characters of The Conners went through a lot of big changes in season 9, with the family winning the lottery, Bev coming out as a lesbian, Dan cheating on Roseanne, and Darlene and David finally getting their stable, happy ending. However, the finale revealed that it was Jackie who came out, not Bev. Dan had actually died of a heart attack instead of cheating, and David ended up with Becky instead of his long-time love interest Darlene.

Sara Gilbert and Johnny Galecki as Darlene and David looking sad in The Conners

The Conners Spinoff

Roseanne’s spinoff The Conners maintained the grounded, sometimes bleak tone of the original series, making it easier for the show to kill off Roseanne when her actor was fired. However, this same bleak tone hurt Darlene and David.

David Healy and The Conners family

The sequel series revealed that David was an absent father and his reunion with Darlene didn’t last. David tried to be present in the lives of their children, but Darlene furiously refused his actions.

Sara Gilbert and Johnny Galecki as Darlene and David sitting on opposite ends of a couch in Roseanne season 5 episode 12

The Final Goodbye

By the season 4 finale, it was clear that The Conners was done with David. Darlene married Ben, making it clear that there was no role for David in her life. David’s mentions in the series grew less frequent, and the show ended David and Darlene’s romance for good.

Darlene and David in sitting in a bed in Roseanne

In season 5, episode 22, 'Grad Finale,' Mark surprised Darlene by inviting David to his high school graduation. When David didn’t attend, Mark expressed that Ben was the man he saw as his real father and the best support throughout his coming of age, thus ending David and Darlene’s Roseanne romance for good.

Darlene and David in Roseanne beside an image of the cast of The Conners